The beast feels Yeth's attack and does what it can to attempt to resist it...
The creature turns its baleful gaze on Yeth and a bolt of energy burst from its hand and travels unerringly into his body.
The creature continues to hang on the ceiling but it lets out a chilling sound which sounds like hideous laughter...
You think it is laughing because - despite your damage - you think the creature is merely toying with you...
Looking at the spider with interest, Bjoern tries to find a weak spot in the beast.
Spitting out a glob of phlegm he draws another javelin and throws it at his enemy.
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Tairin continues to cough and choke in the chamber filled with acrid smoke and chemical fumes.
Sabra does not fare well either, continuing to splutter and cough in her small kittenish ways.
Patenemheb is too distracted by coughing and the searing smoke to act.
Struck by the horror's magic and in intense pain, Yeth-Kolsot begins to cough uncontrollably.
[dice=Fortitude]1d20+3
[dice=Fortitude]1d20+3
[dice=Fortitude]1d20+3
[dice=Non-Lethal]1d6
Struck by the horror's magic and in intense pain, Yeth-Kolsot begins to cough uncontrollably.
The creature is powerful; but it strikes you that it could be doing more direct and brutal attacks. For example; it could simply drop from the ceiling and crush Bjeorn beneath her bulk. You think that the creature is not trying to kill you directly for some reason, but you are not sure - but you know that spiders do not eat dead meat...
She is very powerful; but you know that if it were night her powers were greater. You also know that she gained her powers after feasting on one of the animals in one of the cages.
You do not know, but you believe that she is not trying to kill any of you outright - at least, not unless she is desperate - because she is trying to wear you down into unconscious so she can bind you with her webs and suck your blood.
You do not know but you believe that the more blood she consumes the greater her powers will wax.
You must not allow her to feast on the blood of the living, including the animals still in the cages; but this knowledge should give you some hope - she will likely not assail anyone she believes to be unconscious, and wearing you down into unconsciousness is her goal...
Talar continues to take short breaths between shots with his shirt raised to his mouth, but as he raises his bow he sees his companions faltering. You cannot take this abomination alone. Help them live to fight another day. "Out, retreat! This damned smoke will be the death of all of us!" He moves to Tairin and grabs her, hauling her out of the room.
In terrible pain, Yeth-Kolsot moves out of the divine scion's line of sight.
The creature turns its baleful gaze on Bjeorn beneath her.
Flinging itself from the ceiling it attempts to land on Bjeorn and then, hoping that the warrior feels the burden of her bulk, bite Bjeorn with its hideous fangs and attempt to poison him.
After landing on Bjeorn it then attempts to try to bite him -
Meanwhile, the smoke in the chamber has drifted out of the door somewhat and seems to be disapating from that room.
Tairin quietly called out to Paten, who was still inside the smojy chamber, "Do not remain among the smoke," . Directing her dancing orbs forward so more light would filter into the chamber where the spider was atop Bjoern, Tairin moved (15ft) steadily to the side to stand beside something solid and taking a deep breath to clear her lungs she began to sing, hoping to inspire the courage she knew her companions possessed within them to greater heights.
But the bite of the beast solidly hits the shield.
Taking his blade in his hand he attacks with a solid overhand chop.
Patenemheb nods at Tairin's words, finally able to cease coughing long enough to move. He stumbles out of the smokey chamber, into a place of even worse peril.
Yeth-Kolsot throws a small urn at the ceiling close enough that the cloud of flame engulfs the spider but not Bjoern.
With his allies starting to recover from the smoke, Talar turns his attention back to offense; If Bjoern was willing to take the brunt of the attack like this, he would be damned if he didn't back the big man up.
Yeth-Kolsot throws a small urn at the ceiling close enough that the cloud of flame engulfs the spider but not Bjoern.
The creature attempts to elude Yeth's attack -
To no avail... and while it managed to avoid Bjeorn's attack, it failed to escape the assault of Talar's arrows...
The creature, incensed by the attack, attempts another assault on Bjeorn, hoping to bite him and draw blood...
His throat finally clear, Patenemheb resumes speech.
"Bjoern, you are on the way to ending the beast! Do not give in to its foul sorcery and toxins!"
Bloodied he retaliates attacks the bride.
Talar stays in place, continuing his barrage of arrows.
But while he continues to hold off the smoke from his lungs, his aim suffers.
Once more, Tairin directed her four dancing light orbs forward, closer to the spider Daniya atop Bjoern. Her bodyguard was fighting in such close quarters on his own and she would do what she could for him.
With her song inspiring the courage within her and her allies , she drew her second whip in her off hand and moved steadily/cautiously forward 15 ft and attacked the spider Daniya with the reach weapons in each hand.
=====
With Tairin between him and the divine scion, there is no space to use pyroclastic powders. He hisses in frustration.
As Bjeorn feels the bite of the creature a strange, bubbling acidic feeling seems to enter his veins. It as if the spider is attempting to liquefy his insides and then draw out his blood and remains through its fangs.
But the venom, while powerful enough to damage Bjeorn's insides, it does not have nearly its full effect...
However, your blade bites deep into the creature's hide.
You had noticed it before when you struck, but were not, perhaps, aware of the true potency of what you are carrying...
The hilt is practically quivering in your hand as you wield it; you deem whatever smiths forged its steel had indeed called upon the power of Baal-Khardah when it was made in truth, for it clearly is able to bypass whatever dark powers reduce the damage of normal weapons and allows you to do the full potency of the blade...
The weapons of your comrades are to no effect; Talar's arrows have missed it, and while his former shots continue to force dark blood to ooze from its wounds, his most recent attacks have failed.
Tairin was able to strike the creature, but the damage of her whips were not powerful enough to slay the creature outright.
Yeth stands toward Paten - and while the scholar continues to extol the skills of the company, urging them to victory - the sorcerer merely hisses while he stands and watches...
The creature lets out hideous scream of pain.
It is badly wounded - close to death. It could heal, yet it needs blood for such purposes and was unable to draw what it required from Bjeorn.
It turns and rushes to the animal cages where the sacrificial beasts are bleating in pitiable terror at the approach of the monster.
Yet before it can succeed in reaching their cages it must first bypass the threat of the folk who stand in front of it.
Yeth-Kolsot throws a second pot at the wall behind the terrible spider and engulfs it in flame.
Charging after the beast Bjoern keeps attacking.
Patenemheb looks at the unholy creature and tries to stem the primal terror rising in his soul.
Should it reach me, I doubt I will last long without aid. I must trust in the others, and in the Gods.
He braces himself for the impact, and should he survive, he will withdraw into the clearing wisps of smoke in the remains of the laboratory.
===============
Continuing with her inspiring song, Tairin once again attacks Daniya spider with both her whips,
===============
The kitten Sabra jumps out of the pouch; moving to attack Daniya spider with her sharp magical talons from behind,
Talar's eyes go wide as the creatures flies across the room at him. He steps away, and the arrow onslaught continues, this time with much better aim.
Patenemheb looks at the unholy creature and tries to stem the primal terror rising in his soul.
Should it reach me, I doubt I will last long without aid. I must trust in the others, and in the Gods.
He braces himself for the impact, and should he survive, he will withdraw into the clearing wisps of smoke in the remains of the laboratory.
The creature draws the blood of Paten into it and is able to regain some measure of health...
Feeling the fire from Yeth explode on its back it attempts to resist the damage with its cunning Reflexes...
Bjeorn rushes to the creature and with a heavy swing he is able to slice into the foul beast in its spine and with the strength of his mighty thews the sword cleaves down through the edge of the right side of the creatures skull down into the joint of its shoulder and across the torso - causing the hideous, altered face to crumble into pieces as it splatters across the carmine stained floor.
Tairin and Sabra hack at the corpse, mutilating further even as Talar's arrows plunge into the carcass with a sickening accuracy.
Nothing can be heard now except the crackle of flames burning in the cauldron and the bleating of frightened animals and the heavy sounds of your panting gasps as you stand over the body of your fallen enemy...
- The Spider God's Bride is Dead! -
Spitting on the carcass Bjoern lets out a cry of victory.
"She was strong, we were better!"
Patenemheb gasps at the pain, far more than a simple bit should cause.
He yells in shock and agony, then recovers enough to witness the end of the Spider God's Bride.
He stares, beads of sweat forming on his brow and soot stains on his face.
He stares at the abomination that *hopefully* has just been slain.
Talar scowls, his stomach turning as the adrenaline begins slowing down. He moves up, placing a point of an arrow at the base of the creature's skull and firing to ensure it's demise.
Patenemheb gasps at the pain, far more than a simple bit should cause.
He yells in shock and agony, then recovers enough to witness the end of the Spider God's Bride.
He stares, beads of sweat forming on his brow and soot stains on his face.
He stares at the abomination that *hopefully* has just been slain.
You believe that somewhere in the chamber where the alchemical lab was a covered vent or shaft to let air exit. It would not be big enough for a person to escape; but it was likely that the fumes from the burning exited through that shaft. This means that the lab is relatively safe to work in, despite being in the underground.
You do not suspect anyone would have noticed the small amount of smoke from the earlier fire, but burning a large carcass as the body of Daniya might be best left until after sunset.
Patenemheb continues to ponder, and will speak once he is satisfied that his words will as useful as he can make them.
He coughs, and speaks to the others.
"As the mortal body bleeds, the dark spirit within can be killed. Whether it *was* is another matter, and without Lamurian lore, I cannot ascertain that here and now."
He glances at Yeth momentarily before continuing.
"I strongly recommend that we burn the body, for an additional layer of surety. And perhaps Daniya's chambers contain answers. But there are other considerations after those."
He pauses, thinking.
"Farrokh and Samir shall return at some stage - unless ill befalls them - and we will much to explain to them, or little. We must work on a solution to the bey who will surely be impatient to meet with Daniya."
He glances at the ruined corpse.
"And of course, whatever we say, we are currently without formal home or employment. I for one could use days of bed rest to recover from the effects of alchemical smoke and unworldly venom. Perhaps the priest we met before can assist."
He pauses once more, his throat sore and tight.
"We should seize this manor, for now at least. Burn the unholy corpse, sell the human corpses. Find a way to appease the bey, perhaps with the truth, perhaps with falsehood or distraction.
He makes a point of not glancing at Tairin at these words.
[b]"I suggest that we burn the body as a matter of priority. We are our own masters, whatever Yatera may have thought of us, and we should act as it. Even my advice is that - advice."
He looks around from face to face, seeking response.
4 missed
Total: 7 arrows destroyed, 4 retrieved
Restocked Talar's arrows from the ones carried by his animal companion. With downtime he will restock the supply carried by his animal companion.
"Burn it." Talar says, shuddering. "Until there is nothing left." He turns his face from the monstrosity. His adrenaline gone, he slumps against the wall, face pale. What...what have I gotten myself into?
Our own masters. That brings Talar out of his slump. He takes a deep breath, straitening up. Get your spine hardened. There is work to be done. "I'll leave the politics up to you guys." He walks around the room, then takes out a smoke arrows and lets it trail for a bit. "There must be a covered vent or shaft to let air exit. Not big enough to crawl through; but it was likely that the fumes from the burning exited through that shaft. The lab is relatively safe to work in, despite being in the underground. I doubt anyone noticed the small amount of smoke from this fight, but burning this...thing might be best left until after sunset, or it might attract undue attention."
The effect of the noxious fumes of the burning chemicals was subtle at first; yet now as she stood, the Spider God's bride exterminated once and for all, Tairin felt the toxins' heavy toll on her well being - the weakness pervading her being, yet not felling her. Soon, she would need to rest and recover. Not now. The acrid smoke had choked Sabra and her little throat still felt burned, yet the kitten managed to fend off exposure to the chemicals inside the jars that were destroyed as the web had caught on fire. The kitten was busily licking herself clean; of the blood on her claws and face from the killing of Daniya.
Damn Daniya, Tairin mused silently. She knew the girl had been cunning, but she had not foreseen that that girl would willingly travel down this path. All our employers are dead now. We are free of them.
"Yes, we shall burn her corpse at nightfall. And, set to right the laboratory. Patenemheb, you possess knowledge of alchemy, so I would ask that you examine what solutions, powders and alike are still viable in this working space. Determine what is here and catalogue the items - we can make use of them in later days. If the caster means to stay with us, then take Yeth-Kolsot with you - he may assist you in the endeavour. Bjoern, I remember your concern for the caged animals. Set free any live, starved animal in the cages. There are vast gardens, here, and if they will not prove dangerous to us, let them roam free in them. I will go to the upper chambers. I will first lock the hidden library we recently discovered - we can examine the precious and ancient tomes once the more pressing matters are dealt with and we are settled in this manse. I shall then proceed to Daniya's bedchamber and search for the deed to this manse - the one she was planning to forge with her name so she would be mistress of this house. Instead, I shall put my name as mistress of this estate and I will address the matter with the agent of the Bey on the morrow. I will say that Zheng-ya, Yetara, Daniya and Sefu were urgently called to Lamu on a pressing, confidential matter and I, Tairin, a distant cousin of Daniya's from Yar-Ammon, have been given the right and use of this estate for they would not be returning to Zul-Bazzir for many months and insisted on me to be its overseer. I shall show this agent the deed and, if required, persuade him as to its validity and my right as new holder of this parcel of land and all the properties on it. Everything must be righted and put to order in this house - so, we best get started. Those who have been poisoned and may need to be examined and tended by healer, can see either Patenemheb or myself. Now, if you are agreement, I suggest we begin for we only have the remainder of this day to make all seem well in this manse to influence the agent of the Bey. On the morrow, I will send Samir and Farrokh into the city property to hire servants for this estate. If there is time this day, once they have returned from their earlier task and we have informed them of our change in circumstance, then they may go back and secure servants to start on the morrow. I've spoken for long enough and my throat hurts from the smoke. If I am needed, I'll be on the upper levels."
Collecting Sabra off the blood-stained floor, and, placing her back inside the shawl pouch around her neck, Tairin stowed her weapons, turned toward the staircase at the edge of the people cages and began to climb up steadily/slowly for she was feeling weak of muscle yet her pride would not allow her to show it.
-----
Looking to Talar, she added, "If you do not wish to remain here and clean, then you may accompany me upstairs to search. Being a scout, your eyes are possibly better than mine at spotting hidden things." Not waiting, Tairin began to climb the stairs; Sabra in tow inside the shawl pouch.
At the doorway leading into Daniya's bedchamber, Tairin cast a cursory glance to notice anything of note or out of order,
Then, upon carefully entering the room, Tairin began to earnestly search it for the key/s to the house/secret room/library and the deed to the manse.
Sitting down, Tairin carefully examined the document; looking at the written text and style/curvature/flow of the hand script. Finding/locating ink, parchment and a writing implement, she began to practice before attempting to add her name to the deed so it would look like the original script and would be able to fool a casual or more discerning observer.
Talar wipes the grim from the room off his face, staining the sleeve of his shirt even darker than the rest of it. "Yes, I'll help search..." Talar pauses, then grits his teeth and nods. "You all are with me, right? So many betrayals and situation changes so quickly...I have been honest with my motivations. I want people to help me retrieve my sister. That is my only purpose right now. I hope that fighting...this has shown my dedication to add value to the group."
Yeth-Kolsot nods at Tairin's words. He is mostly interested in recovering what secrets of sorcery and alchemy remain. He begins to Detect Magic, calling on the Black Wind to give him knowledge of the hidden world.
Talar pauses, then grits his teeth and nods. "You all are with me, right? So many betrayals and situation changes so quickly...I have been honest with my motivations. I want people to help me retrieve my sister. That is my only purpose right now. I hope that fighting...this has shown my dedication to add value to the group."
Tairin nodded her head upon his word that he would aid her search in the upstairs chamber. "You have proven yourself, Talar. Once we have settled matters here in Zul-Bazzir and made this estate ours, we can sit and make plans on how to proceed with finding your sister. We have not forgotten." How he loves and longs for his sister. I have never felt such pangs in my heart for my own sister. If Hunra were to die, I would feel no loss nor grief.
"I am in almost total agreement, Tairin. You are of course of Yar-Ammonite noble stock, and able to convince others of whatever you wish more often than not."
"As a group, we need to be securing the manse - and ensuring appearances."
He begins to methodically search the room, prioritising securing dangerous substances and anything written.
You seem to sense that Tairin wants Yeth to remain in your company so you can oversee what he does. As to her reasoning, you're not entirely certian, yet it appears she may not yet trust the Lamuran sorcerer newcomer to remain on his own around chemicals, potions and powders and other articles of note in the laboratory.
Bjoern will first check the food chamber, to get something to drink and eat. The poison in his system is taking it´s toll and he feels famished.
Just to voilently throw up as soon as his body reacts to food in the stomach.
It takes a while but as soon as he can he joins the others, just to sit down, leaning against a wall.
Mulling over the unspoken hints, Patenemheb decides to remain.
The physician covers his lower face with cloth, and approaches the remains of Daniya. He swiftly retrieves the keys and the necklace with the ring.
He will closely examine both, especially for traces of sorcery.